The boy in the hoodie.

Day after day, this problematic teen I see, 
His regular scent of smoke and liquor as he goes by,

I turn my head in disgust as everyone does, 

His cold, emotionless eyes tells a story that can't be solved,

The nostalgic past tormenting him 

Torn hoodies trying to hide the bruises all over,

Hot and suffocating he wants to be free,

Around the corner in the back,

The same hoodie that always repels, always alone with the burnt smell of cigar,

And in the state of a drunk 

Internally screaming but no one sees,

Help me! Help me! is what I see 

I want to save this boy but my body cowers in fear,

The way he dresses and speaks frightens me 

His uncontrollable temper drives people away

I watched him suffer and watched him cry 

But all I could do was sit by

I overlooked his pain all for my own gain

I despised him because I was scared of him

But when the day is done he goes home as silent as the grave

Opens the door almost meeting his demise, 

Ah, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree,

Before the door closes I hear the shrieks and cries,

I wonder what it's like to live in hell's domicile.

But how can I help when I'm just the same,
Trapped in an endless void of rage,
Time is a valuable commodity.
I have a hard time separating temptation 
But for the sake of a brighter tomorrow
I constantly battle myself. 
 
Life is perplexing
And quite short in giving
Yet still, I try not to yield
To the countless conflicts that lay before me
 
I’m tired of losing
In hopes of finding peace
My mind at a cliff and my body stiff
Memories of the craving
Giving in to satisfaction
 
Consumed by fear
Because of voices, I hear
Never silent and always in pain
Withdrawal needed but can’t break free from this chain
 
Why is life depriving me of what’s mine
Just to give in to hell’s domicile
But it was there through my ups and downs
And whenever I wore a frown

It’s better to just give in
I’ve now lost hope and just need to cope
And don’t be like me
Because in just one hit you could split
I wish I could have seen a different ending

This is it, I'm sure it is

I have to end this now or continue to be a slave

I want to see the light again
Please help me from this never-ending rhythm.

Written by Alyssa Chin

Photo Credits (all-greatquotes.com)